5 Health Services Stocks Nudging The Industry Higher

All three major indices are trading up today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading up 31 points (0.2%) at 15,006 as of Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 12:50 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,611 issues advancing vs. 1,325 declining with 103 unchanged.

The Health Services industry currently sits down 0.4% versus the S&P 500, which is up 0.4%. A company within the industry that increased today was Grifols ( GRFS), up 0.9%.

TheStreet would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the industry higher today:

5. Zimmer Holdings ( ZMH) is one of the companies pushing the Health Services industry higher today. As of noon trading, Zimmer Holdings is up $0.93 (1.2%) to $75.93 on average volume. Thus far, 442,909 shares of Zimmer Holdings exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $75.00-$76.56 after having opened the day at $75.15 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $75.00.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of orthopedic reconstructive devices, spinal and trauma devices, biologics, dental implants, and related surgical products in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Zimmer Holdings has a market cap of $12.6 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 17.0, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 12.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Zimmer Holdings a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 16 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Zimmer Holdings as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in stock price during the past year, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and attractive valuation levels. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. Get the full Zimmer Holdings Ratings Report now.

4. As of noon trading, WellPoint ( WLP) is up $0.51 (0.6%) to $82.16 on average volume. Thus far, 963,314 shares of WellPoint exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $81.28-$82.24 after having opened the day at $81.59 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $81.65.

WellPoint, Inc., a health benefits company, through its subsidiaries, offers network-based managed care plans to large and small employer, individual, Medicaid, and senior markets in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Commercial, Consumer, and Other. WellPoint has a market cap of $24.6 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.6, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 34.0% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 7 analysts that rate WellPoint a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates WellPoint as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, increase in stock price during the past year, increase in net income and attractive valuation levels. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. Get the full WellPoint Ratings Report now.

3. As of noon trading, Covidien ( COV) is up $0.40 (0.7%) to $57.81 on average volume. Thus far, 1.7 million shares of Covidien exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.9 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $57.41-$58.20 after having opened the day at $57.42 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $57.41.

Covidien plc develops, manufactures, and sells healthcare products for use in clinical and home settings worldwide. Covidien has a market cap of $29.6 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.3, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 8.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate Covidien a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 2 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Covidien as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, reasonable valuation levels, good cash flow from operations, increase in stock price during the past year and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. Get the full Covidien Ratings Report now.

2. As of noon trading, Medtronic ( MDT) is up $0.33 (0.6%) to $52.10 on average volume. Thus far, 2.2 million shares of Medtronic exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 5.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $51.70-$52.29 after having opened the day at $51.78 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $51.77.

Medtronic, Inc. manufactures and sells device-based medical therapies worldwide. Medtronic has a market cap of $51.9 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.4, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 26.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 8 analysts that rate Medtronic a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Medtronic as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Medtronic Ratings Report now.

1. As of noon trading, Express Scripts ( ESRX) is up $0.59 (0.9%) to $62.51 on light volume. Thus far, 1.4 million shares of Express Scripts exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.9 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $61.52-$62.53 after having opened the day at $61.53 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $61.92.

Express Scripts Holding Company provides a range of pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services primarily in the United States and Canada. It offers healthcare management and administration services on behalf of its clients. Express Scripts has a market cap of $50.5 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 36.8, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 14.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate Express Scripts a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Express Scripts as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, compelling growth in net income, good cash flow from operations, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. Get the full Express Scripts Ratings Report now.